United Way Invests $2.45 Million to Drive Collective Action to End Poverty

Hartford, Conn. (September 16, 2026) – United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut is investing $2.45 million to continue efforts to end poverty in the 860 region. Funding will support 49 strategic partners that will collaborate within cross-sector working groups to address systemic barriers impacting individuals and families in central and northeastern Connecticut, while continuing to provide direct services.  

The working groups – comprised of nonprofit partners, school districts, companies, community leaders, faith-based leaders, hospitals, towns representatives – are centered in community perspective. They focus on reducing disparities in child literacy, wages, housing and life expectancy to end poverty – the pillars of United Way’s Onward860: United to End Poverty strategic plan.  

The groups have been convening quarterly to explore disparities and co-create high-impact strategies. The group members participated in a summit in May 2026 to share progress and findings, and discuss several initiatives in the pipeline: a regional childcare collaborative, a career navigation system, expansion of a housing vouchers program, and a pilot focused on community health liaisons. While discussions and planning are ongoing, a Request for Proposal process is expected to open this fall to participating strategic partners to help further advance collective action plans for emerging initiatives that will address root causes of poverty.

“Ending poverty in the 860 region is work that can’t be done in silos. It requires shared commitment and action to create impact. Through these investments, United Way is providing operating support for nonprofit strategic partners as we continue to co-create and implement collective action plans together,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. 

United Way’s recently announced Strategic Partners include:  

• Advocacy to Legacy 
• Bristol Adult Resource Center
• Bristol Boys & Girls Club
• Bristol Family Center Inc.
• Bristol Works
• Catholic Charities, Inc. - Archdiocese of Hartford
• Center for Children's Advocacy
• Center for Leadership & Justice
• Community First School Inc.
• COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Inc.
• Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
• Connecticut Foodshare, Inc.
• Consolidated School District of New Britain
• East Hartford Public Schools
• End Hunger Connecticut
• Forge City Works
• Friendship Service Center, Inc.
• Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Inc.
• Hands On Hartford
• Hartford Health Initiative
• Hartford Interval House, Inc.
• Hispanic Health Council, Inc.
• Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc.
• Journey Home
• Keney Park Sustainability Project
• Levo International
• Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Malta House of Care
• Network Against Domestic Abuse, Inc.
• Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain, Inc. (OIC)
• Our Piece of The Pie (OPP)
• Plainville, Early Learning Center
• Plymouth Community Food Pantry
• Prudence Crandall Center, Inc.
• South Park Inn, Inc.
• St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol
• The Salvation Army Southern New England Division
• The Village for Families & Children, Inc.
• United Way of Connecticut, Inc.
• Urban Alliance
• Urban League of Greater Hartford, Inc.
• Veteran's Strong Community Center
• Wheeler Clinic
• Windham Area Interfaith Ministry (WAIM)
• Women's League Child Development Center
• United Way of Connecticut, Inc. 
• Urban Alliance 
• Urban League of Greater Hartford, Inc. 
• YMCA New Britain Berlin
• YWCA Hartford Region, Inc.
• YWCA of New Britain, Inc.

Those interested in learning more about United Way’s work and strategic plan to End Poverty can visit unitedwayinc.org/onward860.

###

About United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut  
United Way mobilizes resources and aligns strategic partners to end poverty in the 860 region by closing gaps in child literacy, housing, wages and life expectancy with the goal of a region where there are equal opportunities for everyone to succeed. For more information, visit unitedwayinc.org.